Bukit Kayu Hitam Aksem commander, ASP Muhd Khairi Abdullah said following intelligence gathered from an investigation on Friday, the team raided the double-storey house in Taman Lavender, Jalan Lencong Barat.

It is understood that the house was being used to store the cigarettes and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) at 5pm.

“During the raid, Aksem personnel found the house was not locked and there was no answer after they knocked on the door a few times.

“Upon entering the premises, the raiding team found a huge number of boxes containing cigarettes that were believed to have been packed to be smuggled out,” he told reporters at a press conference at Kedah Aksem complex on Sunday.

Three Toyota Estimas and a Toyota Vellfire, were also left unlocked and contained contraband cigarettes. NSTP Pic by SHARUL HAFIZ ZAM.

He said the MPVs parked there, namely, three Toyota Estimas and a Toyota Vellfire, were also left unlocked, contained contraband cigarettes.

“Checks with the Road Transport Department revealed that the MPVs were cloned vehicles.

“We believe that the house was used as a store by the syndicate members who obtained the cigarettes from Penang.

“The runners, the ones who transport the cigarette supply, would then distribute them to shops and supermarkets in Alor Star,” he said.

Muhd Khairi said the syndicate members were believed to have moved into the house, located in a secluded and an unkempt area, a few months ago.